Conversion apparatus for refining hydrocarbon materials



Jan. 3, 1928. 1,654,577

R. K. olTLaNs y CONVERSION APPARATUS FOR REFINING HYDROCARBON MATERIALS Filed May 18, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet l v .smc/r fw? 5c/ms of fvraucns 0F camel/.s mw.

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R. K. COLLINS CONVERSION APPARATUS FOR REFINNG HYDROCARBON MATERIALS Filed May 18, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Jan. 3, 1928.

UNITED STATESA 1,654,577 PATENT OFFICE.

RUSSELL K. COLLINS, OF FORT WORTH, TEXAS, ASSIGNOB, BY DIRECT AND MESNE AS- SIGNMENTS, TO. COLLINS PROCESS, INC., OF WILMINGTON, DELAWARE, A CORPORA- TION OF DELAWARE.

CONVERSION APPARATUS FOR REFINING HYDROCARBON MATERIALS.

Application ale'a may 1s,

This invention relates to a novel expand-` ing and converting apparatus to facilltate the refining of hydro-carbon materials according to the processI defined and claimed in my co-pending application, Serlal No. 563,136, led May 23, 1922. n 1

'The primary object of this inventlon 1s the provision of an expander adapted to re' adapted to receive a relatively large body of v vaporized hydro-carbon material in such -manner as to provide for the uniform heating of the body of vapor in order to convert the same for releasing the constituent parts thereof.

A further object of the invention 1s the provision of a back trap convertor adapted to receive a heavier fraction of converted and condensed hydro-carbon material for novel treatment to revaporize and refine the same.

A further object of theinvention is the provisin of an expander and back trap con-v vertor cooperating in such manner as to -utilize the same products of combustion for the heating thereof. A further object of the invention is the provision of an expander and back trap f convertor adapted t respectively recelve av re-expanded hydrocarbon vapor and a heavier fraction of a hydro-carbon for destructive distillation thereof, and co-minling the revaporized fraction with the initial hydro-carbon vapor in such manner as to increase the yield of a desired distillate.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent during the course of the following escription.

In the accompanyinr drawings, forming a part of this spccificatlon, and wherein similar reference characters desi,f ,1fnate*correy Asponding parts throughout the several views.

Figure 1 is a si section, showing the relative arrangement of the parts ofthe improved conversion apparatus.

e elevation, partly in.

1922. Serial No. 561,925.,

Figure 2 is a transverse cross sectional View, taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a transverse cross sectional view, taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a longitudinal cross sectional view, taken through the back trap convertor.

Figure 5 is a transverse cross sectional view, taken on the line 5`5 of Figure 4. Figure 6 is a transverse cross sectional view, taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 4.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown the preferred embodiment of this invention, the letter A deslgnates the limproved apparatus, which includes a furnace B; expandervC; and back trap convertor D.

The furnace B is of any preferred type,

including the chamber 10, which is provided with an opening 11 therein for access of heat to the expander and back trap convertor.

`Flues 12 are preferably provlded in the .furnace B, cooperatively positioned with respect to the passageway 11, said fiues being provided Vfor the purpose of controlling the flow of the products of combustion for the purpose of heating the expander C and backl trap convertor D. n

Referrin to the vexpander C", the same referably mcludes a cylindricalshaped casing 15, which is vertically positioned and includes the side walls 16; top wall 17; and bottomwall 18. A pipe 19 is disposed in an mletr opening 19a adjacent the bottom wall 18 for the supply of pre-expanded hydrocarbon vapors to the chamber 20, the vapor so supplied to the chamber 2() being produced in avaporizing still, substantially as described in my co-pending application above referred to. The casing 15 is mounted upon a frusto-conical shaped housing 21, which provides a heat chamber 22 below the fbottom 18 of said casing, said housing 21 likewise being provided as a supportl for the vback trap convertor Dv in a mannerwhich der to receive products of combustion there! from. The casing 15 malyll be secured/in any appropriatel manner to t e top of the housing 21 so that the same 1s vertically positioned, substantially as is illustrated in Figvure 1 of the drawings.

Tubes or llues 25 are provided in the chamber 2O of the casing 15, arranged in Ainside of the casing wall 16, so that the chamber 20 is subdivided into a plurality of compartments. The screens 29 are preferably of nickel, so that the same may have catalytical reaction upon the hydrocarbon product which occupies the chamber 20. A conduit 30 isl preferably disposed in an outlet openin 30a adjacent the top wall 17 of the expander casing 15, for the purpose of conveying vapors from the chamber 20 after the desired conversion therein, for condensing pur oses as will be understood by those skilled 1n the art to which this invention pertains.

Referring to the back trap convertor D, the same includes acylindrical elongated casing 40, transversely mounted inthe housing 21 of the a paratus A, so that'the pointed ends 41 an 42 thereof extend exteriorly of said housing 21, although the main body portion 43 of the casing 40 is disposed within the heatingchamber 22. y The chamber 45 of the casing 40 is adapted forreceiving a condensed fraction from the ordinary dephlegmator (not shown) Vthrough a drain tube 46, which is in communication with the chamber 45 at the extreme end of the casing 40. A pipe section 47 is detachably mounted in the screw threaded opening 48*1 of the casing end 41, and extends interiorly of the casing 45; havinl an elbow 48 mounted upon the free end t ereof, and whereby the condensed fraction may flow `from the drain pipe 46 through the pipe 47A and elbow 48 to be deposited in the chamber 45, as can be well understood.

A pipe line-v 50 preferably communicates with the convertor chamber 45 adjacent the inlet pipe section 47; said inlet pipe 50 being provide'd for lea-ding fixed ydro-carbon gases into the convertor D for combination with the hydro-carbon product therein. Superheated steam may likewise be conveyed from any suitable source (not shown) into the chamber 45 throu h an inlet conduit or f pipe 52, atan end of t e convertor casing 40 op osite that end in which the fixed gases a'n' hydro-carbon fraction inlet. A pressure gauge v53 may be detachably mounted upon the end 42 of the casing 40, to determine the internal pressure in the, chamber 45. lf

desired, a drain tube or cock 54 may be provided in the lower portion of the casing 40 upon the end 42 thereof, for drain of residue hydro-carbon products and for cleaning purposes. Likewise a manhole (not shown) could be placed in the casing end 42 for cleaning and inspection purposes, although such provision is not absolutely necessary. The chamber 45 is preferably provided with a plurality of perforated flat baille plates 55 arranged therein in staggered relation, so that the iow of materials within said chamber is baed, pursuing a tortuous path in order that the proper combination and reaction of said materials may take place. A

rforated tubular shaped nozzle 57 is provided, detachably mounted in the top of the casing 40 intermediate the ends 41 and 42, the same being provided for egress of the hydro-carbon products issuing from the chamber 45 after the same has been vaporized. It is preferred-that a perforated nipple 58 be provided in the perforated tube 57 at the juncture thereofwith the casing 40. The top 59 of the nozzle 57 is perforated, and in lieu thereof a cap` may be provided. The baille plates 55 are preferably all of the same formation, being segmental to have a marginal edge 60 thereof struck from a center which will lie in the longitudinal axis of the casing 40 when said marginal edges 60 of the baffle plate 55 are affixed to the interior circumference of the chamber 45. The remaining marginal edge portion 61 is struck from'a pointv olf center with respect to the arc from which the other marginal edge portion 60 of the late 55 is struck, so that when each of the baA e plates 55 is positioned within the casing 40, the edge 61 will be free of contact with the casing 40. to provide a relatively large passageway 62 whereby the material in the casing 40 may flow from one side of a baille plate 55 to the other, without necessity of flowing through the perforations 6 3 of said baille A rod' 65, preferably ofy some non-corrosive material may be disposed longitudinally throughv the casing 4() and The back trap convertor D is assembled to the expander() in a manner above described,

and in this position, the perforated nozzle 57 extends through the bottom wall 18 of the expander C into the chamber 20 thereof, so thatvapors issuing from the back trap convertor arise into the chamber 20 and asso- -loo ciate with the vapors therein which have been supplied through the vapor line 19.

The 'process Aand remaining apparatus with which the improved expander and back trap convertor are used, are fully'v described and claimed in. my copending application 'Serial No. 563,136, aleaMay 2e, 1922,' and .manner `possible, until the expanding capacity of the vapor molecules causgs them to burst and conversion takes place, releasing the lighter and more volatile constituentsfrom the heavier constituent parts thereof.

' The released constituent parts of the vapor,

after conversion, exit from the expander C into the line 30, after which the same enter a dephlegmator (not shown). After separation of the heavier fractions by condensation, the same are led into the chamber 45 of the back trap convertor I) through the inlet pipe 46. In this chamber 45, the fixed gases entering from the line 50 4are ballied, and admixed with the liquid hydrocarbon. The heavier distilled fraction in the back trap 4convertor is also associated with the hydrogen released, from the superheated steam which is injected therein through the conduit 52, andthe materials vthus placed inthe casing 40 of the back trap convertor D are thoroughly heated, by means ofthe positioning of the back trap convertor D inthe'path of theheated products of combustion as hereinloefore` mentioned. The vapor arising from the agitated materials within the back trap convertor D enters the expander chamber 20 and therein cooperates with the vapor issuing from the vapor line 19. The process of conversion of all vapors is finally effected within the chamber v20 of the expander C. -f he reactions taking place within the chamber 20 are of such character as to produce a maximum yield of the desired fractions.

It is to be notedthat the back trap convertor D erforms 'a function -which is essentially t at of a small rerun still, but of tained, but a greater yield of the desired fraction is provided in an economical manner, by reason of the cooperative association of the expander C and back tra convertor D. 1 No mechanical stirrers or co e removers comprisin Vcarbon liquid and gas'within sai l tube in ysaid casin are needed in the apparatus, as no total decomposition of the hydrocarbon product takes place, except at the'will of thel operator. For cleaning and inspection purposes, a man hole may be provided, in any suitable location in lthe expander casing 15.

From the foregoing, it can be seen that an improved apparatus has been provided, whereby hydro-carbon products may be truly converted 1n their separated vaporized states, in amanner, and by such apparatus which takes into consideration the laws by which conversion is naturally governed. It is to be noted that the expander C and back trap convertor D cooperate, not only in the manner in which the products therein are heated from the same products of combustion, but whereby the vapors arising from the back trap convertor D may cooperate with the vapors of the'initial material applied'to the expander C. by the vapor line 19, so that the hydro-carbon products are treated in the best possible manner.

Various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts of the apparatus herein shown and described, for the refining of various hydro-carbon materials may be made without departing from the 4spirit of this invention or the scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. As an article of manufacture, a cylindrical shaped expander including` a casing having side, top and bottom walls, spaced iues mounted longitudinally within the chamber of said casing opening at the' ends thereof outwardly of the top and bottom walls, 'said casin having inlet and outlet openings dispose respectively adjacent the bottom andl top 'walls thereof, and erforated nickel baille plates disposed within the chamber of said casing intermediate the inlet and outlet o enings thereof.

21 As an article. of manufacture, a unit for the treating of hydro-carbon products an elongated casing having a treating c amber therein, inlet means in one end of said casingl for admittin -'a hydrochamber, inlet means disposed in the other end of said chamber for admission .of superheated steam into said chamber, a perforated-tube extending upwardly from said casing and having communication therewith intermediate the ends of the casing, means for heating the casing and balile plates arranged in the treatmg chamber of said casing, yeach having certain edges thereofspaced from the msl circumference of the chamber to provide a p passageway thereby, said passageways being disposedin staggered relation intermediate,-

the inlet means in said casing and the outlet so that materials being treated-therein w1i, of necessity, pursue a tortuous path therethrou h. v Y,

3. In a device of the ass described, the

viti

combination of heating means, a housing disposed over said heating means including a chamber for receiving the heat from said heating means, an expander carried by said housing including a chamber having inlet and outlet openings therein, said chamber beingvprovided with fiues extending longitudinally therethrough and opening out- Wardly at .their ends for receiving heat from said housing for conduction therethrough for heating the contents of said expander chamber, and a convertor Vunit mounted transversely through said housing to have a portion disposed in the heat chamber of the'housing, said convertor having inlet and outlet openings therein whereby aproduct after treatment in said convertorvmay arise into the chamber ot said expander, said convertor and expander being so positioned upon said housing .as to be heated by the same products of combustion arising from sa-id heating means., l

4. ln apparatus of the class described a vertically' disposed expander' receptacle having a compartment and including a bottom Wall and having inlet `and outlet openings to the compartment thereof, an elongated converter receptacle horizontally supported below the expander receptacle and including a vertically disposed tube extending th rough the bottom Wall of the expander receptacle into the compartment thereof, saidcrmvcrtcr receptacle having a hydrocarbon inlet opening therein remote from said vertically dis# posed tube and means for heating the converter an expander receptacle from the thru said compartment'in uniform arraugement, a rerun` chamber having'mlet openings therein 'and an outlet opening com-` niunicating With the compartment et said expander, and means for heating said rerun unit and expander with the same products of combustion which pass threu h the Hoes of said expander for uniformly eating the product therein.

6. An expander for receiving hydrocarbon products comprising a casing including top and bottom Walls, spaced heat conducting lues extendin through the casing between the top an bottom Walls and supported by said top and bottom walls, said casing having inlet and outlet openings'tor the compartment between the top and bottom Walls, and. spaced hama plates disposed in the casing between said' to and bottom Walls and having the hydrocar on inlet and outlet openings disposed at opposite sides thereof, said baiiie plates each having minute perforations therein for the How of hydrocarbon products therethrough from the inlet opening to the outlet opening of said casine.

RUSSELL it. contras. 

